Rare Book Monthly

New York: Rare Books Everywhere [for 4 days]

- by Bruce E. McKinney

The New York Book Fair: the collector's bacchanal

If it is April it is again time for the New York Antiquarian Book Fair, this the largest such event in the book collecting world. This year’s four day fair at the Park Avenue Armory, that features more than 200 American and international dealers, begins on Thursday April 7th and continues through Sunday the 10th. For they who are active as dealers or who buy primarily from dealers this is the single best moment in the year, four days of viewing, discussion and negotiation. Many dealers bring fresh inventory and every year a fresh attitude about price and negotiation. The market changes and the players adjust.

For both highly rare and highly important materials, by all reports, prices continue to be firm. For material that is less rare and/or less important such examples may be negotiable but dealers understand this and tend to bring their best. It is in fact a free-for-all.

The great material will be on the floor on Thursday at 5:00 pm when the show opens. Experienced buyers will be there moving briskly in search of memorable acquisitions. It’s more expensive to obtain a Thursday night pass but well worth the cost.

As is always the case for exhibitors the New York Antiquarian Book Fair is sold out. Dealers talk about cutting back but rarely miss New York. It is simply too important. This fair, that also includes ILAB members, will have many of the premier dealers from around the world participating.

Main Fair Days and Hours:

Thursday April 7th 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Friday April 8th noon to 8:00 pm

Saturday April 9th noon to 7:00 pm

Sunday April 10th noon to 5:00 pm

Location:

Park Avenue Armory

643 Park Avenue [between 66th and 67th Streets]

New York, New York 10065

The Other Fairs [both nearby]

On Saturday two book and ephemera fairs will vie for attention. The first is the New York City Book and Ephemera Fair on Park Avenue at 83rd Street in the Wallace Hall at St. Ignatius Loyola. The other is the Manhattan Vintage Book & Ephemera Fair and the Fine Press Book Fair that share a hall at the Church of St. Ferrer at 869 Lexington Avenue at 66th Street [across from the Armory Show].

The hours for both shows are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Because the Armory Show does not open until noon these shadow fairs are invariably busier in the morning. Last year many preregistered visitors were able to see both shows before the main fair opened. Links to all shows are provided at the end of this piece.

Abe Books, in conjunction with the New York City Book and Ephemera Fair at 980 Park Ave, is providing free shuttle service to and from the ABAA Fair throughout the day.

For active book buyers these fairs are somewhat akin to the Wild West. The relatively brief exhibition period and competition with the main fair tends to make sellers encourage offers. This gives these events “a now or never” urgency that adds excitement.

Altogether, more than 325 dealers will be exhibiting at the three shows. It’s a special moment for they who love collectable printed paper. It does not get better than this.

<b>Bonhams, Sep. 17:</b> EARLY AVIATION PHOTOGRAPHY ARCHIVE. Chronicling 20th century aviation from the earliest Wright Brothers images through commercial and military applications. $50,000 to $70,000.

<b>Bonhams, Sep. 17:</b> FIRST TELEPHONE CALL TO THE MOON. Partial transcription signed by Apollo 11 astronauts and President Nixon. $20,000 to $30,000.

<b>Bonhams, Oct. 23:</b> AUDUBON, JOHN JAMES. 1785-1851. <i>The Birds of America, from Drawings Made in the United States and Their Territories.</i> New York & Philadelphia: J.J. Audubon & J.B. Chevalier, 1840-1844. $20,000 to $30,000.